Design Debate

The power-house of colour that is Pantone have released their colour of next year. It's a glowing, cosy shade of peach that feels almost out of reach - like a sunset that changes before your eyes. The intention though, rather than something elusive, was it seems to capture a feeling of the yearning we have for closeness and connection. With a world so in turmoil, next years colour feels like a much needed a warm embrace. Leatrice Eisman of Pantone describes Peach Fuzz as a colour that 'effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless', I can see that. It's the pulsing nature of the colour that hints at neon and encourages a pure but and youthful vibe. The hero images are tactile, otherworldly and fantastical. I do also love Vogue's response, especially the runway shot of a sheer striped dress from Missoni SS24. So I set about exploring what Peach Fuzz, Pantone 13-1023 would feel like, delve into the womb-like embrace with me with my moodboards below... 1   2   3...

What a great name, I think they thought so too as the cover kind of shouts it! Authors Alberto Vieceli and Sebastian Cremers set out to collect images of bookends for an amazing catalogue of the hard working ornaments that prop up our favourite titles.   Presenting them all in black and white does give them an equalising quality. I like how the examples are arranged by type, you can really see how varied the art of propping is, and how book owners love to display their personalities proudly on their shelves. I am particularly partial to the Star Wars ones, or the parts of the body. Very intriguing!  Compiled between 2019 and 2022 (interesting years to be sure), the authors managed to photograph more than 2,000 bookends. Published by Everyedition, The End of Books is for the completist, and of course the book lover, if you have space in your bookcase that is.   

I am forever considering and reconsidering what I would do with my hallway given some time and some budget. Wallpaper would be perfect, though some days I fancy just taking my paintbrush to the walls myself, free style, like this lockdown creative .  I would paint white silver birches on a yellow background I think. But just in case I don't get that brave, wallpaper I think would do the trick. I am drawn to monochrome etchings of clouds and giant banana leaves in delicious greens, but today I wanted to think Art Nouveau and see what patterns might inspire. What set me off in this direction was finding A Beautiful Mess 's hidden room. I mean that wallpaper is one to covet. When you think Art Nouveau you think William Morris, his patterns are so intricate and instantly recognisable. I can remember all the places I have seen them. Like our primary school teacher's closet (weird I was in there once and weird I remember at all - but the vivid oranges left an impression) to a cos...

Such a calming space, the clients of this Santa Monica renovation wanted their Indian heritage to shine through and I think the designer, Lizzie Green of Popix Designs, has done that with a lightness of touch. It's the clever use of wood and brass that calmingly asserts the quality. The TV cabinet especially is a lovely piece of design, helping what can sometimes be rather a black hole disappear into the decor.  The stunning wallpaper in the powder room is a welcome balance to the serene muted palette elsewhere. I love the drama here. The morning routine also played a factor, the designer's clients makes a point of watching the sunrise and this was marked with curves and arches throughout the house. All the wood looks so tactile, the brief to the designer was to create a space where no where was off-limits to the children, and no matter how beautifully designed a chair maybe, it had to be suitable to curl up with a book. Lovely. Originally found at Rue magazine . 

I love colour. That's an understatement. I am really drawn to surprising combinations, delicate hues rubbing shoulders with emboldened primaries. In art especially these are the pieces I tend to gravitate towards, whether they are portraits or landscapes, literal or impressions. Today I thought we could indulge a little in some abstraction with the work of Imi Knoebel.  Knoebel is German, born in 1940, he creates abstract paintings and sculptures that speak to modernist ideas and the Bauhaus movement. His work has been displayed all over the world and are sought after at auctions. Here a few pieces I particularly love.  Imi Knoebel, Anima Mundi 58-4 ED , 2012 Imi Knoebel, Anima Mundi 12-3 ED , 2010/2016 Imi Knoebel, Face 43 , 2003 Imi Knoebel, Fishing Yellow II E , 2007/09 Imi Knoebel, Anima Mundi 2019-4 ED , 2018/2021 Imi Knoebel, Anima Mundi 2020-15 ED. 1 , 2020/21 Imi Knoebel, Anima Mundi 31-5 , 2023 Imi Knoebel, Anima Mundi 91-3 , 2010 Imi Knoebel, Anima Mundi 16-5 , 2020 ...